German Car Zone

Thanks for taking the time to have a look at this thread guys. If you’re looking at the pictures on a large high res screen it helps.

@ The Artist – Yes MB really has put a lot of effort into interior quality, and I don’t believe they have received the credit they deserve. These pictures don’t lie. The level of attention to detail in the Mercedes trumps the Audi. Easily. If only more motoring jurnos paid more attention.

@ Wimmer – I would have to disagree with you. While the Audi looks very high quality in photos, I would describe it as being solidly average in person.

My uncle does have an IS Lexus and I would rate it on par or slightly above the Audi. It certainly has a very ‘japanese’ feel to the assembly and plastics, but it feels more solid/dense. Also the leather is more supple. The layout leaves something to be desired though.

As for the Q5, I believe it would fall into the same boat as the A4 for me. They are almost identical interiors, and while it looks good in photos, something is definitely lacking in person.

@ Martin – Thanks for the kudos. What is your take on the C and A4’s interior? You seem very brand neutral and always make good observations. I rarely disagree with a post from you.

@ Giannis – I feel the 3’s interior has dated in terms of design. The colour combination in these pictures does the 3-er no favours however. The pastics to me feel higher in quality then the Audi, but the Audi seems to have a better general fit. It also appears to lack the attention to detail shown in the Benz. But this was a pre facelift model, and I’m sure things would be much improved in the update.

Even though my aunt has a 3, and I have spent some time driving it, I feel it would be unfair to view the 3 as critically as the Benz or Audi now that a FL is out. Nevertheless my 1 series is going to the dealer on Monday for some warranty work; The locking mechanism or module or something is playing up, and I’m hoping they give me a loan FL 3 for the day.

@ Just Anothny – Thanks mate. Yes I believe if the jurnos paid more attention to detail on the little things the Audi myth would soon be abolished. Audi would have to bring back the legendary finish and attention to detail of the older models.

Right on. The Mercedes to me also is best in class for the time being.

I’ll say it again. People should not make a judgment based on press photos, magazine shots and a brief encounter on the dealer floor. If you really want to gauge quality of fit and finish and attention to detail, you need to spend some time in the cars.

@ Amo – The interior lighting on both cars is satisfactory, though nothing outstanding. Some would love the red glow that washes over the Audi central console and transmission tunnel (two red Led’s located in the rear view mirror) but I prefer the orange hue of the Benz lights. I didn’t take any night interior shots of the A4 or C, but I would give a slight edge to the Benz. Again a small detail, but the LED hidden behind the opening handle of the benz appears to create a nice thin line that runs the lennght of the handle, whereas in the audi it’s just a soft glow. I hope you understand this poor explanation. But neither is remarkable in this respect.

One thing I have noticed in BMW’s, and this was the case in the 3-er loan car and our X5, but the overhead switchgear does not light up. I find this absolutely astounding and it drives me crazy. You are literally stabbing in the dark to hit the interior lighting buttons up there and hope you get the right one. At least the SOS button is bright as can be I guess. The MB and Audi buttons are nicely illuminated.

As for the 7 and S. Now to properly compare the two I think you would really need to spend quite an extensive amount of time with both to discover all the surprises and delights that have been built into these two premium products. A definitive conclusion most definitely couldn’t be reached with a brief encounter and looking at press material and magazine photos.

A FL S is also on the horizon.

@ BMER – Yes I agree 100%. The buttons on the new A4 feel cheap (hard shiny black plastic) and lack the soft touch and tactility of the buttons in the older B7. The B7 also felt much more solid. I would say the B7 and the new C are quite comparable, but the C is a bit glitzier with its chrome highlights, more modern layout and slithly superior panel fit. For this class, the B7 was really a lesson in interior quality for MB and BMW.

@ Tarek – Thanks mate!

@ Kovachian. Yes I probably do need some sort of help lol.

@ Yannis. Fair enough. We all have our preferences and look at different things.

But on a serious note, it has ANNOYED me to no end the way the A4 interior has been praised the and C-class knocked. So I though’t I’d just post a few direct comparisons and observations I made during my time of A4 ownership. Yes Audi did once make class benchmark interiors. But they have dropped the ball and MB and BMW have lifted their game considerably.

Good write up my friend and great attention to detail!

But you have to remember your comparing a standard 1.8t A4 to a much classier C class, and the A4 doesn't have the MMi system so instead of having all the button around the stick, you just have plastic (more the reason to get the MMi)

I sat in the 1.8t and then went into a 3.2 not long ago and the quality difference is huge!

Anyway I think I prefer the Audi interior much more modern (please don't hurt me for saying that)





Edit: The 3-er interior looks terrible dated and terribly BORING!

How would I hurt you? Thank your lucky stars you are on the other side of the world....

The A4 would improve considerably with certain options and trims. But I don't think that would have much bearing on the overall quality of the plastics, feel of the switchgear, solidity of the build, panel fit etc.

Well you never know, I might be going back over to Australia to watch the cricket See you there Buddy

Back on subject next time I'm in a A4 I will have a good inspection at every little aspect of the interior

Couple of days ago I went for a ride in my friends dads Allroad and the interior didn't actually feel as solid as my A6 (gone now)

Maybe Audi have cut back on interior costs to save money

Sadly, I couldn't give Karma. I do have to spread some reputation in order to give you some (good) Karma Mr. Mercedes.

But I thanked you for the excellent analysis. One picture that shocked me was this:



So many overlaps and I can see the glue sticking out!

Dear old friend,he wasn't comparing the looks but materials used and fit/finish of the interior

Ι have seen both the A4 the new C class and sat inside them in the Athens autoshow last year. The A4 for me is clearly better in overall quality although some of the silver plastics could had been better.

The only way for C class to win is to compare a base A4 with cloth seats with an upscale C class with wood , leather ect. that costs several thousand euro more. If we compare similarly priced models , A4 still has the edge.

^Well u are just being biased Yannis

It's very clear from the pics,the two similarly equipped models shows how superior C's interior is

I think what Yannis is trying to say is that he finds the A4 interior to be the best looking; Fair enough. But a closer and more detailed inspection reveals the C-Class has the best built interior.

I must say that at first I couldn't find anything wrong with the A4 interior, but thanks to Mr. Mercedes excellent analysis, now I can.

Regarding new A4 I wasn't thrilled either, more plastic compare to previous A4 and the car somehow felt cheaper is what I experienced. In fact not better than my dad's E90.

Regarding C-class, it was long time ago I sat inside so I dont recall what I felt about the car back then. All remember is that I didnt like the interior design. I guess I need to visit my MB dealer again.

I'm just back from my dad's 325i E90, the interior is solid and well-built.
All the "black plastic" could be softer though. The quality between facelift and prefacelift E90 isnt gigantic, new buttons with chrome etc and some small details is what makes the facelift more fresh and up-to-date than the prefacelift.

All in all, all three germans are of high standard and they all feel well-built. However, interior quality do not decide which car I buy in the end, for me its the overall package.

Also I would like to add, you cant judge a car based on photos, you need to experience it in real life.